Quintus Horatius Flaccus, known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus. Profoundly inspirational Horace quotes will make you look at life differently and help you live a meaningful life.
If you’re searching for quotes by famous poets that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of profound John Keats quotes, famous Omar Khayyam quotes and top Robert Burns quotes.
Famous Horace Quotes
In love, there are two evils: war and peace.
Pale death with an impartial foot knocks at the hovels of the poor and the palaces of king.
Death’s dark way Must needs be trodden once, however, we pause.
Rule your mind or it will rule you.
No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation.
Painters and poets have equal license in regard to everything.
Mediocrity in poets has never been tolerated by either men, or gods, or booksellers.
It is sweet and honorable to die for your country (dulce et decorum est pro patria mori).
You must often make erasures if you mean to write what is worthy of being read a second time, and don’t labor for the admiration of the crowd, but be content with a few choice readers.
A heart well prepared for adversity in bad times hopes, and in good times fears for a change in fortune.
Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone.
It is no great art to say something briefly when, like Tacitus, one has something to say; when one has nothing to say, however, and none the less writes a whole book and makes truth into a liar – that I call an achievement.
I shall not wholly die, and a great part of me will escape the grave.
Few cross the river of time and are able to reach non-being. Most of them run up and down only on this side of the river but those who when they know the law follow the path of the law, they shall reach the other shore and go beyond the realm of death.
What exile from his country is able to escape from himself?”
A picture is a poem without words.
Inspirational Horace Quotes
Leave all else to the gods.
Good sense is both the first principal and the parent source of good writing.
Years, following years, steal something every day; At last they steal us from ourselves away.
If any man cannot feel the power of God when he looks upon the stars, then I doubt whether he is capable of any feeling at all.
One must exercise proper deliberation, plan carefully before making a move, and be alert in guarding against relapse following a renaissance.
I shall not altogether die.
Pulvis et umbra sumus (We are but dust and shadow).
Leuconoe, close the book of fate, For troubles are in store, Live today, tomorrow is not.
He that cuts off twenty years of life. Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
Man learns more readily and remembers more willingly what excites his ridicule than what deserves esteem and respect.
Ridicule more often settles things more thoroughly and better than acrimony.
In the capacious urn of death, every name is shaken (Lat., Omne capax movet urna nomen).
Choose a subject equal to your abilities; think carefully what your shoulders may refuse, and what they are capable of bearing.
Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.
Whither, O god of wine, art thou hurrying me, whilst under thy all-powerful influence?”
Pale Death beats equally at the poor man’s gate and at the palaces of kings.
No poems can please for long or live that are written by water drinkers.
Clogged with yesterday’s excess, the body drags the mind down with it.
O drink is mighty! secrets it unlocks, Turns hope to fact, sets cowards on to box, Takes burdens from the careworn, finds out parts In stupid folks, and teaches unknown arts.
Top Horace Quotes
Books have their destinies.
I never think at all when I write. Nobody can do two things at the same time and do them both well.
The Muse gave the Greeks genius and the art of the well-turned phrase.
A shoe that is too large is apt to trip one, and when too small, to pinch the feet. So it is with those whose fortune does not suit them.
Every old poem is sacred.
One night is awaiting us all, and the way of death must be trodden once (Lat., Omnes una manet nox, Et calcanda semel via leti).
What tongue hangs fire when quickened by the bowl? What wretch so poor but wine expands his soul?”
We are just statistics, born to consume resources.
Knowledge without education is but armed injustice.
Death is the last limit of all things.
Poets are never allowed to be mediocre by the gods, by men or by publishers.
The whole race of scribblers flies from the town and yearns for country life.
Death is the ultimate boundary of human matters.
Pactum serve (Keep the faith).
They change their sky, not their soul, who rush across the sea.
One night awaits all, and death’s path must be trodden once and for all.
He who is greedy is always in want.
He who would begun has half done. Dare to be wise, begin.
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.
Great effort is required to arrest decay and restore vigor.
The pen is the tongue of the mind.
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.
A portion of mankind take pride in their vices and pursue their purpose; many more waver between doing what is right and complying with what is wrong.
Avoid inquisitive persons, for they are sure to be gossips, their ears are open to hear, but they will not keep what is entrusted to them.
Anger is a brief madness.
Drawing is the true test of art.
Ridicule is often employed with more power and success than severity.
Ridicule often cuts the knot, where severity fails.
